Matthew Shepherd
Toronto,Canada
Summary
Result-focused Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) with 16 years experience in nursing and 10+ years in the surgical peri-operative environment. Expertise in physical assessment, wound care and sterile technique. Proficient in-patient education and medication administration, as well as detail-oriented, observant, and proactive.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Registered Practical Nurse – Operating Room
St. Joseph’s Healthcare Centre
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
11.2013 - 03.2025
- Company Overview: Committed to welcoming patients by providing comfort and reassurance before surgery
- Specialize in delivering preoperative assessments handling instruments monitoring patient conditions and aiding with procedures under a surgeon's direction
- Clinical rotations as both scrub and circulating nurse in general surgery, gynecology, thoracic, orthopedic, plastics, ophthalmology, and ENT services, striving to create a positive surgical experience for clients and their families
- Use and care of flexible pediatric and regular bronchoscopes, gastroscopes, and colonoscopes and their accessories
- Advocate for patient safety, embracing organizational policy, standards of practice, and risk reporting of safety issues
- Clinical training of new and senior staff through surgical rotations and to new products and equipment
- Preceptor of students completing post-graduate perioperative clinical rotations
- Facilitation of multi-unit nurse education and needs assessment in preparation for hospital accreditation
- Committed to welcoming patients by providing comfort and reassurance before surgery
- Specialize in delivering preoperative assessments handling instruments monitoring patient conditions and aiding with procedures under a surgeon's direction
Clinical Nurse – Educator
Toronto Addis Ababa Academic Collaboration (TAAAC)
04.2017 - Current
- Voluntary clinical nurse educator at the Black Lion Hospital is responsible for training operating room nurses in Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS) Techniques and promoting the development and strengthening of collaborative practice
- Facilitates the educational process through assessment, development, planning, implementation, and evaluation of nursing competency
- Demonstrating leadership skills in the clinical setting
- Excellent understanding of VATS procedures and ability to anticipate surgeons' needs in a stressful situation
- Able to troubleshoot intraoperative equipment with trainees
Assistant
Gritty Nurse Podcast
05.2020 - 01.2024
- Provide a platform for empowerment and shared experiences, where we represent voices that have been silenced, underrepresented, and marginalized so they can share their stories of hope, change and inspiration
- Following up on and drafting e-mail requests related to advocacy
- Coordinating bookings
- Accounts receivable/payable
- Appearing on podcast episodes discussing equity, diversity, and inclusion
Student Nurse – (ICU)
Humber River Regional Hospital – Wilson Site
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
09.2022 - 04.2023
- Company Overview: Redefining patient care and building a people-centred workplace with values of Compassion, Professionalism and Respect
- HRH is a teaching hospital that is committed to making a positive difference
- Responsible for documenting assessment, ADLs, and communication with patients
- Managing patient medications, pain, vital signs and basic care needs (assessments, wound care, bathing, etc.)
- Collaborate with the interprofessional healthcare team to ensure the best possible care for patients
- Adhering to policies and procedures
- Redefining patient care and building a people-centred workplace with values of Compassion, Professionalism and Respect
- HRH is a teaching hospital that is committed to making a positive difference
Student Nurse – (Psychotherapy)
Trafalgar Addiction Treatment
01.2022 - 04.2022
- Company Overview: Provides comprehensive treatments for men and women with addiction and mental health disorders
- The team of professionals has extensive clinical and research experience, culminating in offering the very best in residential & outpatient addiction treatment
- Co-facilitate group therapy sessions with a registered therapist on anxiety and codependency
- Communicate in an empathic, compassionate, sensitive, and skilled manner with clients
- Participate in team building and service development as needed
- Ensure all aspects of confidentiality and data protection are always maintained
- Provides comprehensive treatments for men and women with addiction and mental health disorders
- The team of professionals has extensive clinical and research experience, culminating in offering the very best in residential & outpatient addiction treatment
Student Nurse – (Research)
Toronto Metropolitan University - Community Safety and Security Department
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
09.2021 - 12.2021
- Company Overview: The safety and security of students, staff, faculty, and visitors are of the utmost importance to Toronto Metropolitan University
- The University believes everyone should be able to learn and use its space in safety and comfort
- Understand the administration of naloxone products
- Recognize the signs of an opioid overdose and identify its causes and risks
- Know the steps to follow when encountering an opioid overdose
- The safety and security of students, staff, faculty, and visitors are of the utmost importance to Toronto Metropolitan University
- The University believes everyone should be able to learn and use its space in safety and comfort
Education
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) - Nursing
Toronto Metropolitan University
Toronto, Ontario04.2023
Diploma - Practical Nursing
Humber College
Toronto, Ontario04.2009
Peri-Operative Nursing Certificate - Nursing
Centennial College
Toronto04.2012
Skills
- Empathy
- Team player
- Excellent communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Advocacy
- Aseptic Scrubbing Technique
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinker
- Physical Assessment
- Proper Donning/Doffing PPE
- Medicine Administration
- Daily Living Tasks
- Glucose Checks
- IV and Venipuncture
- Computer Literate
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Certification
- Practical Nursing License, Ontario, JI743977, Active, 2009
- Registered Nursing License, Ontario, 25996511, Active, 2025
- Peri-Operative Nursing Certificate, Centennial College, 2012, Active
Awards
Rising Star Award
- This award is for professionals that have 2 years of experience or less in the operating room that show excellent skills., 2013, St. Joseph’s Hospital Operating Room
Timeline
Student Nurse – (ICU)
Humber River Regional Hospital – Wilson Site
09.2022 - 04.2023
Student Nurse – (Psychotherapy)
Trafalgar Addiction Treatment
01.2022 - 04.2022
Student Nurse – (Research)
Toronto Metropolitan University - Community Safety and Security Department
09.2021 - 12.2021
Assistant
Gritty Nurse Podcast
05.2020 - 01.2024
Clinical Nurse – Educator
Toronto Addis Ababa Academic Collaboration (TAAAC)
04.2017 - Current
Registered Practical Nurse – Operating Room
St. Joseph’s Healthcare Centre
11.2013 - 03.2025
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) - Nursing
Toronto Metropolitan University
Diploma - Practical Nursing
Humber College
Peri-Operative Nursing Certificate - Nursing
Centennial College